Wednesday: I had a very nice and quiet morning, I think we deserved it after we stayed until 22.30 last night at the Youth Center.
We had a meeting on the Contact Making Seminar which is due next week from 20th to 25th.
At first we thought it was only a clarification about the activities we will play, but after half an hour we realized that there still were quite a lot of little things to arrange and decide.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to participate to the discussion as I didn't understand a lot about what they wanted to do..there will be a sort of Treasure Hunt and a visit of the city, or maybe it's the same thing..the treasure hunt is a funny way to discover the city..well..I will see tonight as we will have another meeting to finish what we weren't able to bring to an end last night!

I am a bit worried for the CMS as I hope to be able to interact properly with the people who are coming..what I am saying is that sometimes I feel like I cannot be completely involved because I don't know enough about the activities, maybe because I missed something or because my English is not as good as others'. But I am really looking forward for this new experience and I really hope to get the most of it and to get to know new friends.

I was thinking about making new friendships when you are abroad some days ago (of course for enough time to build something deeper than a summer acquaintance) and I was thinking about my past experiences in other countries..I really do think to be very lucky.
I had the chance to go to lots of places and to spend some months of my life in other countries like England, Spain and now Croatia. So I had the chance to get to know many many people, boys and girls from other countries, and somebody may agree that I have been so lucky. But I was also considering that you may meet hundreds of people but a few of them only will be really important for the rest of your life..
I like reflecting on these aspects of my life because it makes me realise how unpredictable life can be, sometimes in a really wonderful way..
For example I have been 9 months in England and I can affirm that those persons who are still in my mind and heart are only 5 out of all the people I met. Maybe it might appear a bit frustrating as someone may think that almost a year should be enough time to build a strong relationship with most of them, but actually it doesn't work like this..
But there's something more important to add: those who I am still in contact with are real friends, people with whom I have built something really strong and I am sure, because I feel it, that I have a deeper and stronger link with them than with friends I have known since I was born!

On the opposite, there's the other side of the coin! maybe people pop into your life just for a few weeks or even days and you get along so well with him/her that although you didn't have enough time to get to know each other so deeply you feel he/she is really a good friend, a person who can understand you completely or nearly completely! and you cannot give yourself an answer to that but you just feel great! you are so eager!
I don't know what this experience will offer me..I am very curious about it cuz I know how good you feel when you perfectly match with somebody whom you would have never expected!
At present I will try to enjoy every single day and encounter..even the briefest or the least meaningful cuz..who knows?! maybe behind that there's another true friend!

Here we are! back from Tvrđa..and really glad about how our survey has gone!
I was quite unsure about the outcomes this morning as I was worried for the cold weather and for stopping people around, but I must admit that it wasn't so bad!
On the opposite I enjoyed this experience! We were able to catch even 10 people in the main square and then very easily we found out other 25 people going towards Tvrđa and up there too.
Actually I was surprised cuz of the shyness of the majority of the people we stopped. It seemed to me that they were quite embarassed of speaking to us and fulfilling the questionnaires we gave them..I thought it would have been a nice chance to get to know new people but on the contrary both boys and girls have been reserved..only a small group of young boys talked to us more, asking about this research and about us, where we are from and so on..actually..as soon as I told them I was from Italy they started saying "oh Italija, mafia, spaghetti.."..I do not care about that of course but..I don't like when in other countries people cite "mafia"!!! There are so many good things to remember about Italy..why do they talk about that?! and.."mafia" is not actually only in Italy!!! Why isn't the Russian or Chinese mafia mentioned as often as the Italian one? sometimes I guess people watched too much tv and American movies about gangsters in New York..
by the way..they have been nice with us so I don't want to complain too much! I also took a picture of them and, as I promised, I will add it here. They tried to have our email or msn addresses but..too easy guys! I said them to check the CnC's website where they will be able to reach our blogs..eh eh..;-)

Then back home where we have found our lovely Magdalena, grappled with a very good smelling and (first of all!!) hot soup for her two dear house-mates, been out for about 2 hours at 6 degrees!!! I would have said they were less than 3 but..my "Italian measurement" maybe is not the most reliable one!!!!

So, all in all, this experience has been once again a good and funny one! Next time I really hope the temperature will be more lenient so I will enjoy being outside as much as doing our research!

Not in the mood

Today is the "Tvrđa day"! it means that in about 15 minutes I will go to Tvrđa, in the old part of Osijek catching youngsters with Madara for our smoking research..actually I am not really looking forward to walking around the city..it's cold and I would prefer to sit here with a hot cup of tea in my hands..but I know we have to go today, we have tried to wait for a nicer and warmer day but the weather doesn't want to be helpful with us, it doen't really like us I would say..but never mind! I took my hat and my gloves this time with me, so I hope not to freeze like on Sunday morning..

Sometimes when I hear from my friends and my family that in Italy they are having very warm and sunny days, I feel angry..uff!!!!! I want sun and warm here too!!!!! I thought to find the snow, so the cold could have been acceptable, but no snow and this bloody freezing air..grrrrrrr!!!

I am asleep today..I have slept like a baby for almost 8 hours last night (as soon as I put my head down on the pillow I just fell asleep! what a miracle!) so I should be very relaxed and full of energy but..ehm..I do not look like this, at all!!! maybe I am still trying to digest Madara's delicious meat-balls and souce..
We ate them last night, back from the Youth Center. What a far out dinner for me and Magdalena! Actually, I am not used to that kind of food, well, I mean the souce in paticular and I really had too much of it last night..shame on me! :-P
And as my bloody stomach doesn't work properly (it's like an old man's one...) later on I always have problems if I don't pay attention on what I devour!!! :-(
So this morning I am paying my dues..feeling a bit sick and sleepmissing..

The time is going by..other a few minutes and we will be on the streets..
I hope we will find lots and lots of people, quickly and easily! Magdalena wishes us good luck! Thank you my dear..

Italian and Croatian National Evening

Third week in Osijek has just started and another weekend has already gone..I would say a really busy but rewarding weekend!
Actually Friday arrived and I had to present my country at the Italian National Evening at the club..I had been quite nervous the all week long. It's been first of all a matter of character and second cuz it was my first presentation.. and of course the first time is always the most worrying!!!
But everything has gone really fine! People liked the presentation, I showed them lots of pictures of Italy, about Rome, about mountains and seaside, also an interesting one about Etna's eruption. I think they appreciated it. And I was really happy when I launched the funny video about the differences between Italy and other European countries because they laughed a lot and I felt really happy to make them so amused!
Then I let them taste what I had cooked, namely eggs with tuna, mayonese and capers filling, pasta (they were "penne rigate"!! as I showed them plenty of kinds of pasta!) with black and green olives, tuna (in the blue bowl) and cherry-tomatoes.
And finally the "salame di cioccolato" cake. I think it's one of the best thing someone can eat in this world!!! it's a chocolate salami with biscuits and nuts inside! We usually make it for children parties but I have never found yet adults refusing a slice of it!!!
In conclusion we spent a great time together! I really should thank lots of people. First of all my colleagues, Magdalena and Madara who helped me serving the people at the Youth Center, Damjan for his patience, telling me a lot and a lot of times to be calm! and of course to the boys and the girls all for being so nice that night! So thank you everybody!!!!
I went to bed definitely worn-out that night..but really glad for myself and the support I got!

But the weekend had just started and on Saturday we kept on celebrating ours countries with the Croatian National Evening!
Another beautiful night together, getting to know interesting aspects of the country. I think it's really a brilliant idea to present our countries in this way. You can learn some interesting tips you couldn't get to know at school or by reading a book, as it's always better to be taught by natives!

Of course there was food..and Rakija!!! A very very very strong alcoholic drink, traditionally producted in Croatia but, not simply in Croatia!!! Actually it was made by Ivan's granfather! Look how proud he was! ;-)
I just had one shot of Rakija and it has been enough for me!!! my stomach was going to burn and I needed to go on eating something else..what a pity!!! ahaah!! of course it was an excuse!!! I really liked the bread, the black and white rolled cake and the croissants Marko's mum had made..
guys, I will really get fat if I keep on eating this way!!! and next Friday there will be Magdlena's night..and her friends are coming on thursday, bringing with them lots of food-stuff for us!!! help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-P

Then Sunday came..someone may guess we have been in bed the all day long..but wrong guys! We are very iperactive girls!!! Magdalena went (as usual now) to the dogs and Madara and I went to a huge open-air market for searching bicycles.. actually not by our own but kindly escorted by Ivan! poor boy..he went to bed at 4 in the morning and then woke up at 8 o'clock for us! thank you, thank you! :-D
So at 9 we were almost all outside, in the freezing wind of Sunday morning..how cold it has been for me! you really cannot imagine! I was going to die! and the funny thing was that Ivan and Madara were not feeling so much cold! so I didn't want to complain too much..:-(
We spent a couple of hours there, there were too many things, but old one too and I was really impressed by such a market! never seen something like that! there were pets, cars, clothes, tools for repairing anything..and much more!

Then on the way back I suggested to stop for a coffee or a tea..I wanted to return Ivan's favour to us!!!! and they agreed immediately..so I guess they were feeling cold too!!!!

The rest of the day was quiet. We watched some tv, ate the ham and cheese-cake I cooked on Saturday afternoon and then (as I was not satisfied with the cold I got in the morning!!) I went out for a walk along Drava! How much I like Drava! I have been out for an hour, looking around, leaving my eyes free to range around.
And I also saw the fireworks coming back! I was crossing the bridge, I was on my way back and it had already got dark when I saw a nice green fountain in the sky..
So I stopped there for a while.. The wind was getting sharper and sharper but I was really relaxed in that moment: at the highest point of the bridge, with a cigarette in my hand, sorrounded by the dark and the lights from the city, in front of the big river Drava, watching those warm red, green, yellow drawings in the blu of the night...carried by my thoughts and emotions..

Despite the weather, today is definitely a good day! I feel better and happy as the things are going like I wanted them to be!
I guess this sounds quite crazy..by the way..I AM HAPPY!!!

This morning I've been to the supermarket with Damjan and Magdalena to buy the food stuff I need fot tomorrow night..I bought a lot and as soon as I was back home I started making the cake I want people to taste at the Italian National Evening!
I am almost happy with that..actually I do not make it very often that's why I guess there might be some problems in cutting it..mmm..let's wait for tomorrow and just leave it alone for now!

Other interesting things..well! Our next planning!!!
I'm so excited about thinking we are having 5 days of Contact Meeting Seminar here in Osijek, from 20 to 25 this month and..another super event! The On-Arrival Meeting in Ljubljana next month, from 3 to 8 March! I cannot wait for that, really! I love going around, meeting new people, making new contacts! sississi!!! :-D

OK..now it's time to go back to my presentation..I will check it again..does it sound strange?! ihihih!!!

After the weekend and the first busy busy days of my second week in Osijek, it's time to come back and add something to my adventure story!
Actually I should update my blog with thousands of events.
Let's try to handle it!

First: Friday Evening or Madara's evening, as she presented her country: Latvia.
I really enjoyed the night as she showed us her brilliant presentation, talking about Latvia's history and giving us some hints on Latvians' attitude towards Russians..quite funny hints, like latvian favourite play consisting in shooting Russians with a shot only..or something like that!!
Then we also tried some delicious food stuff, which I really appreciated...Madara? If you feel bored at home you may know what to cook..ops..do!!!

Then the weekend was great! I went swimming with my dear house-mates and Prada, one of the guy from the Youth Club. We swam first and then we had a really relaxing half an hour..one hour..one and a half..well a lot of time in the warm water. Actually it was piping hot! but there were bubbles too so really really relaxing!
Than I thought to invigorate and toughen my body going straight to the cold pool..final outcome? I think it's easy to catch..I got an annoying cold! well done Federica! but never mind, I'm used to it..last year I got it at the beginning of October, then I took it with me, caring and loving it, until May..grrrrr!

By the way..Saturday night we have been once again to Bastion! I guess some of my Italian friends really like it! and once again we had fun with some of our super new friends!
I really appreciate how much they care about us, as being abroad is usually difficult at the beginning cuz you don't know exactly where to go to and where to spend the night at and you often feel homesick..but not here! definitely!
Then Sunday we thought to go out for lunch, after Magdalena had been at the dog-asy. And the choice was..a Pizzeria! Great choice guys and I can really affirm I promoted the pizza I ate! ;-)

Coming back, although ours stomaches couldn't afford something else, Magdalena and I were strongly tempted by some cakes from a shop's window so..we stopped and she kindly bought three of them to have a break later...here we are with those delicious creamy cakes!!!


Finally let's come to the beginning of the week and now "the pains start" (it's the very translation of an italian way of saying..meaning that this part of the story won't be so funny!)
Actually I was very concerned with my Italian presentation due next Friday..and I got panic! I think I made my friends go mad too..sorry about that..
It's my bloody character! I am very nervous person and the human personification of anxiety..:-P
But now everything has been sort out..I feel more serene..almost ready for my first public PP presentation!

Today I also went for a walk along Drava river during my lunch break..it's amazing! it's huge! I am not use to such a river in my city! And it's the right place to go running! I am undoubtedly glad about that cuz I like running and the landscape on the opposite side of the city is very relaxing! hope to be able to go sooooooooon!!!

first night out

It's almost a week that I have been here and last night my house-mates and I, with some guys from the Youth Center, went out together! It has been a great night really! Hvala lijepa prijatelji :-D
But let's tell how yesterday has passed..
after we cleaned almost the whole house we went to Cnc for working..for trying to fix what we had written for the project we will send right today to Brussels!
Then I started searching something interesting to say next week for the Italian national evening..I have some nice ideas, but they are basically related to food..(cough cough!) somebody might be wondering why!!! :-P yes, I know I should avoid speaking only about pasta and pizza but..they are so delicious!! how cannot I talk about that?!! and I think people will agree!! by the way I am thinking about something else, related to italian history of course and..well..I am not saying anything else..I don't want people to know too much! ;-)

After that, Damjan had a great idea, a really smart one! He was quite hungry and he suggested to buy some burek! it was totally new for us! he bought some with meat and some with cheese!
Actually we had thought to eat it all but, guys, it's really heavy! we weren't able to finish it all and after half of that we looked at each others like that: "if we stand up right now, we are going to start rolling on the floor!!"
but what a yummy break it was!
I think I liked the meat-burek much more..and Magdalena and Madara too I guess!

Have a look at our "little and healthy" snack!! ;-)

So we have stayed over at the Club until night. We watched a movie, "Pulp Fiction" and went out. Actually I was really looking forward to watching it as I have been hearing positive comments about it for years but..I did not understand it very much..I think it was a matter of language..well, as you know guys, my English is not as good as someone else's here so, it might be due to this reason..I did not catch every speech they had..poor me! :-(
Never mind, I think this experience will surely help me to improve my linguistic skills!

But let's move to the night! I wanna show you some pictures we took at Pivnica and Bastion!!!
We went to the former to have a beer..(well someone had only one beer, others had more than one!!).
I really liked Pivnica as it looked very typical, with traditional music too, maybe not really traditional but absolutely croatian!

Finally we finished our amazing night at Bastion!! we had a great dance together!
I think everybody needed to let their body loose so dancing has been the right choice!






So..let's wait for our next dance!